Question
On the thirteenth day after birth, newborns start to hiccup frequently. Is this phenomenon normal? Is the cause of hiccups due to overeating or indigestion? If hiccups occur every day, how should one handle them?
Answer
Newborn hiccups are usually caused by three reasons: first, it may be due to improper care, leading to the baby catching a cold, with cold and hot qi flowing back. As the saying goes, “drinking cold wind” can trigger hiccups; second, incorrect feeding methods, such as overfeeding or consuming cold milk or taking cold medications, may lead to qi stagnation and reduced spleen and stomach function, causing abnormal qi movement and subsequently leading to stomach qi rising and stimulating the diaphragm, resulting in hiccups.